Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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297. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding staycations here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27145/20]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Stay and Spend Incentive (SASI) is to incentivise taxpayers to support registered/accredited providers of accommodation and/or food during the off-season, thus providing support to a particularly vulnerable sector that will continue to be constrained by public health limitations. All food service providers and Fáilte Ireland registered or listed providers of accommodation are eligible to take part in the scheme.  The scheme will be become operational on 1 October and is due to cease at the end of next April.

It will provide a maximum of €125 in income tax credits to tax-payers who spend up to €625 in restaurants, pubs, hotels, B&Bs and so on, in the period from October to the end of next April. Where an individual or jointly assessed tax-payer has insufficient income tax liability to fully benefit from the measure, they may still avail of the relief against their USC contributions.

Revenue have advised me that registrations can continue to be made in respect of qualifying service providers both before and during lifetime of the scheme. Fáilte Ireland is marketing the scheme and has been involved in sectoral/industry marketing and marketing to the public.  That marketing included highlighting the requirement to register with Revenue and the ease in so doing.  The marketing campaign was also supported by Fáilte Ireland sending out marketing content, logos, etc. to registered businesses to assist them in publicising their participation in the incentive scheme.

Details of the qualifying service providers are published on the Revenue website.  For the ease of citizens searching for Stay and Spend service providers, the listing can be searched by County and by type of service.  As of 24 September 2020, there were 1,375 service providers listed on the website across the 26 Counties.